Complimentary Soiree.

Thames Star, Volume XI, Issue 3651, 8 September 1880, Page 2

Complimentary Soiree.

One of the most successful and enjoyable reunions ever held on the Thames was the soiree in honor of Mr Speight, M.H.E., which eventuated at the Shortland Volunteer Hall, Shortland, last evening. The gathering was originated to testify appreciation felt in Mr Speight's services to the district in defeating the Railway Construction Bill, and there must have been between 300 and,4oo persons present. The tea was provided by Messrs Fuljames and .Scott, and did credit to them as caterers. After the tables had been cleared away, Dr Kilgour, Chairman of the Railway Committee, took the chair.

The Chairman, in his opening remarks, said that Mr Speight, although not representing the Thames, had done almost as much for it as their own representatives, and the hearty thanks of the community at large were due to him for his past laboiirs. Mr Speight had excelled himself, however, in the matter of the diversion of the railway, having by his gyeat efforts been instrumental in thwarting Government in their proposal to divert the line, and the people had thought they would be wanting in courtesy did they not take steps to show their appreciation of his high-minded conduct. He (the speaker) did not know whether Government would complete the railway now, but he thought there was a probability they would carry it on as far as the head of the head of the navigation at Omaha. Ift was afraid, from present appearances, that it would be s.Qiae time yet before the people possessed a station here. To secure their object the people bbould be united &nd pull together, and

assist as much as possible the friendly members of Parliament, such as Mr Speight, to carry on a work which was so necessary for this place, and for which they had agitated for years past. The present was not an occasion for lengthy speeches, and he would not detain them any longer, but conclude by thanking them for the patient hearing they had accorded him. (Applause.) Mr Hilton sang " A warrior bold " in excellent style, and was rewarded with well-merited plaudits.

Mr McCullough said it was only since tea that he had been requested to address the meeting, which was hardly fair to an inexperienced speaker like himself. However, in Mr Speight he had a rery good subject to speak about, and he was pleased to hare an opportunity to give utterance to his thoughts on such an occasion. Although they all appreciated Mr Speight's services, few knew the large amount of trouble and work Mr Speight must have had to bring about the results they were all so pleased with. During last year, when as Mayor he was in Wellington, he had opportunities of seeing how the business of the country was carried on, and knew what great difficulties members had to get things done for themselves, that was in regard to local matters. At that time Mr Speight was only a young member of Parliament, and he might say that the House was very, conservative—a number of the older members who had sat there from 10 to 15 years, not liking new members to put themselves forward,* and thinking that they had the right to speak first. As they all knew, Mr Speight was not easily put down, and he had the pleasure of listening to Mr Speight's first speeches when he showed these members that he was not to be put down (Cheers.) Mr Speight also took steps to make himself acquainted with the procedure of the House, and he was soon appreciated by the members, who, though they did not work themselves, liked to see others working. He was sure Mr Speight must have had great difficulty in the matter of the railway. Sir George Grey and Mr Sheehan wrought bard, but Mr Speight had borne the heat and burden of the day, and he certainly thought the people of the Thames had shown a just appreciation of his efforts by assembling in such numbers as they had that evening. It had been said that this I was not a representative meeting; he said it was a very representative assemblage of the Thames people which must be exceedingly gratifying to the promoters. It must be pleasing to Mr Speight to see such a number assembled to give honor where honor is due, (Hear) and when he returned to Parliament, no doubt the memory of the reunion would incite him to continue his efforts on behalf of this district. (Loud cheers.)

Mr Wiseman sang the " Petitions from Petitionviile,", which was received with hearty applause and laughter, .and the singer had to give an encore verse appropriate to the occasion. Mr Wm. Wilkinson having explained how it came that the soiree was held on the same evening as the ball to the Mayor—through Mr Speight arriving be« fore he was expected—read apologies from Sir Geo. Grey, Mr Sheehan, His Worship the Mayor, and the County Chairman. Whilst in Wellington last year, reports ing for the Press of the colony, he had reported Mr Speight's maiden speeches. He had, consequently, had opportunities, of observing Mr Speight's actions in the House, and could speak in the highest terms of the ability he had displayed. He cordially endorsed all Mr McCullough had said.

Mrs James Gribble sang "We parted by the river side."

Mr Speight, on coming forward, was received with loud and prolonged cheering. He said: I suppose it not will be considered egotism on my part to say that since my arrival on this field, I have spoken from the public platform on nearly every possible subject, and I think you will admit I heve taken a fair share of work with some amount of ease to myself, but on the present occasion I would rather sit down and allow the remainder of the programme to be carried out. I feel that you will sympathise with me if my remarks this evening lack connection; At the present moment my feelings are those of intense gratification and pride, not the pride that lifts a man above his fellow's, but gratification at knowing that you appreciate my services, and at knowing that not one of those present can expect to benefit to the extent of one shilling by anything I could do for them. The circumstances under which I have to address you are peculiar, but the advantages are great —given a meeting having entire sympathy with the speaker, the greatest dolt could reach their hearts. Before I proceed to speak on the main subject— our little fight about the railway—l wish to say that when I received the telegram from Mr Wilkinson informing me ot the intention to hold a soiree I never was more astonished in my life. The fact is that people at a distance can often see a significance in matters which those on the spot thought little of, and I suppose it was so in your case. When I was fighting against the Bill I had not the slightest idea that my action would be ever remembered, and I was at a loss to conceive how it could ever be supposed that a Thames man would dare to do otherwise than stand up for Thames rights. In acting as I did I only did what any justice-loving man would do, and so I do not see that I merit any praise whatever. It is pleasing, however, to have our services, however small, acknowledged, and J. wilt tell you tjiat if matters ten times more valuable cropped up I will be happy to place my services at your disposal. (Applause.) There are advantages in addressing an assemblage like this, and I have to thank the gentlemen who originated the soiree for not giving me an intoxicating drink banquet. It does not require the flowiug bowl as an incentive to eloquence and good fellowship. The temperance question is a hobby of mine, and you must excuse me for speaking of it. I am glad" you have given the ladies the pleasure of being present. We have in the House a celebrated champion of women's rights, who I am afraid is not app,reciate.d as, much as he ought "tp be by the ladiep. I think that the women think more of being man's helpmate than all the political privileges $hat could \>o bestowed on them. I say long may it so continue. I want to apologise to you for Sir oeorgo Grey's absence from this meeting, jie having given me a message to you. Before I deliver it I may Bay that the old man has a leaning to meeting the masses of the people—not select coteries at guinea banquets—but the- people them-. selves. Sir George was very ill, and it would have been nothing short of cruelty to 'bring him to the Thames tired and

wearied as he was. Before he went down to the Kawau to convey him whence a steamer was waiting he saii to me, " Oh Speight, how much I would like to go to the Thames to speak stiring words to the men and women. To think that the mothers of the children will be there and we don't often get at them." Sir George has very little faith in the representatives of the people, but ho has hope in well educated, promising young "New Zealand that is springing up, and hopes to instil into their minds these principles, to himself so dear. I now come to the main subject of the discourse —to tell you how our litlle fight about the railway Mas fought and won. In the beginning of the session we saw a notice on the order paper was to be read, and on enquiry of some of the older members, I found that it was a formal Bill usually brought in at the end of the session, and enumerating all the works to be carried out for which votes had been passed. I rested on my oars at that, and it waa not until the Bill was in our pigeen-holes that I understood its true purport. I found that the Bill only contained'one clause, and that was authorising a branch line to Cambridge, j Nothing in it was mentioned of the Thames line or where the money was to come from—not a word of the misappropriation of our vote. This however, we found out by reference to j to the estimates, so you will see things were somewhat mixed. After we questioned Ministers, we knew what was going on. I want here to correct an impression that appears to be pretty general on the Thames, and that is that in my action with reference to the railway, I acted in a manner inimical to the constituency I represent, and that they are displeased with my action. (Hear.) Nothing is further from the truth, and I have too high an opinion of my constituents to think they would be parties to the misappropriation of public funds, and until they themselves say it, it is a foul slander on them. (Cheers.) They can see it was only a political job perpetrated to buy political, support. However, the bill came down for. second reading. Mr Whyte, the Waikato member, worked hard for Cambridge, and acted quite correctly in doing so, but it would have been very incorrect if I had allowed them to carry the day. A lot of credit has been given to us for shelving the bill, but our success was chiefly due to circumstances. The circumstances were that members were flying home and could not be compelled to stop. Government, in order to carry the measure, brought it in before the Appropriation Bill, and when that is passed no one will stop, as all the money that is to be got is got, and that appears to be the object of most members. (Laughter.) In doing this the Government made a mistake, as members were weary, and seeing we meant to make a fight and meant to crush the Bail way Bill before the Appropriation Bill was passed, they came over to us. It was indeed as Dr Xilgour remarked an admirable instance of political morality. Well, whilst I was speaking against the measure, a message came saying if we would allow them the second reading they would abandon it it. I knew that promises were not to be depended on, and kept on speaking while Mr Montgomery went and arranged the matter satisfactorily. That gentleman then came over to where I was speaking, and sitting down beside me said, "When you have run down a bit you can stop." (Laughter.) J then ceased speaking, but I must confess I was disappointed, as I was prepared to talk from half-past seven in the evening till half-past seven the next morning. A number of our best men had determined to go, but when they heard of the injustice the Government were endeavoring to perpetrate they sent back their traps and promised to remain by Sir George Grey and myself and thwart the Govern, ment. One of these was Mr Thomson, late Minister for Lands in the Grey Government, who on one memorable occasion felt it incumbent on himself to inform the House on one matter for 17 hours, and was quite prepared to speak for us for 12 hours. Mr Turnbull, member for Timaru, was another friend of the Thames. He was one of the most honest and upright men in the House, and would nos deviate from the proper line of conduct for anything. When he found there was the semblance of a job, he hunted up a pile of Parliamentary papers j and was prepared to endeavor to connect the Cambridge Railway with the Patetere Block in an interminable speech j (Laughter), Montgomery, Andrews, and Murray had also done good service. Mr Sheehan made undoubtedly the best best speech of the session iv our support. He was well acquainted with the subject and fought like a brick. These gentlemen having trotted out and Mr Turnbull having given a preliminary canter showed the Government what might be expected, and I believe if they had. not given in we could have kept them there for a fortnignt. Having paid a tribute to the honor and uprightness of the House Mr Speight continued. There were some things that were sent to Parliament from here that made me blush for the Thames. To think that such a community should descend to such a petty mode of striking a poisioned arrow into the characters of each other was disgraceful. On one or two occasions I wasj so ashamed that I had almost to tell an untruth to avoid being questioned about some of the petitions sent. This course did more harm to the district than the loss of two or three of their best gold mines. I may say that in speaking of Sir George, whom I have grown to love and respect move than ever, I do not envy him his eloquence or his talents, but I do envy him representing a constituency like the Thames. In concluding, Mr Speight further referred to Sir George Grey's aud Mr Sheehan's services, and having again thanked them, took his seat amidst loud and prolonged applause. Miss Cleave having sang very sweetly "Far away," the assemblage was addressed by Messrs grange, Carpenter, and the Rev. S. J. Neill, and the proceedings terminated with the singing of the National Anthem.